BY GENALYN KABILING
President Duterte has challenged human rights advocates to help educate the public against illegal drug use instead of merely counting the drug-related killings in the country.
According to the President, rights advocates should find a job at the funeral parlor if they will just stick to counting the deceased drug offenders.
He reminded them that human rights advocacy “does not begin and end in the life of a criminal,” saying the country is still plagued with the problem of drug addiction.
“Napaka-torpe naman ng human rights kapag hindi kayo nag-ano .. Ano ang ano ninyo magbilang na lang ng patay? E p**** i** e di maglipat kayo ng trabaho. Huwag sa human rights, punenarya kung ‘yan lang ang trabaho ninyo. What about the social problem, the serious and grave problem of drug addiction in the country. What are you doing about it? At least meron kayong advocacy (You human rights advocates are cowards if you can’t.. You’re just going to count the dead? Son of a b*tch, you better find another job. Find a job at the funeral parlor, not as human rights group. What about the social problem, the serious and grave problem of drug addiction in the country. What are doing about it? At least have an advocacy),” Duterte said during his televised address.
“You also do a campaign all around the Philippines, warning the citizens about killed, about being slaughtered if they do drugs. ‘Yan tama na magawa ninyo (That’s what you should do),” he added.
If the people end up getting killed due to drug use despite their education, Duterte said the human rights groups may then investigate and file cases.
Duterte also unleashed a profanity-laced rebuke at groups for allegedly protecting criminals and paying homage to the “caucasians of Europe.”
“Ito mga puti ito? Magkano ba na dollar ang tinatanggap ninyo? Huwag ninyo sabihin na mas Pilipino pa kayo when you enjoy prosecuting people doing their jobs. Ako takutin ninyo? F*ck you,” he told his critics.
Duterte also renewed his kill threat against those involved in the illegal drug trade, saying he does not care if the illicit substance was manufactured in the Philippines, Malaysia or China.
“A shabu is a shabu is a shabu. I don’t care where it come from. It’s a crime,” he said. “If you destroy my country, I will kill you,” he added.
He also noted that drug offense carries a death penalty in Malaysia, Indonesia and China. “Tayo lang ang Pilipinas na maarte (The Philippines is only one who is finicky),” he said, apparently alluding to the absence of capital punishment for drug offenses in the country.
Duterte also took a swipe at critics from the Catholic church during his televised speech. He said if their prayers were really effective, he wondered why illegal drug problem remained prevalent in the country.
“Drugs really destroy the spirit of a nation.. you destroy the dreams of parents to see their children to finish school, start a family,” he added. (Genalyn Kabiling)
